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The foundation recently released final numbers for the 2015 program, which saw 27 local nonprofits take part in the 12-day intensive fundraising period in November.

Those groups raised a collective $779,412 that then was matched by $200,000 from the Wayne County Foundation. Last year was the fourth time the foundation had offered the program.

Leading the way was the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, which raised $199,864 during the match period. It was followed by Richmond Friends School ($58,080), Cope Environmental Center ($55,487), Richmond Symphony Orchestra ($48,855) and Girls Inc. of Wayne County ($46,320).

“Our community is incredibly generous,” Steve Borchers, executive director of the foundation, said in a press release. “While these totals are less than the $1,021,950 grand total reported last year, there were 13 fewer organizations participating in 2015 and $31,000 fewer match dollars available from the foundation.”

This was the first year participating organizations were required to raise a certain amount of money (either $5,000 or $10,000, based on the organization's application) to trigger the matching funds from the foundation. Once the threshold was met, the foundation then matched the next $5,000 or $10,000 in donations.

One group, the Wayne County Soil and Conservation District, did not reach its threshold target, coming up short of its $5,000 goal at $2,155.

Six others — Achieva Resources, Christian Charities, DIPLOMAS, JACY House, Townsend Community Center and Whitewater Valley Pro Bono Commission — made it to their threshold targets but didn't raise enough to receive the entire possible match from the foundation.

Unmatched dollars were distributed as "bonus bucks" to the organizations that overachieved their match goals, according to the foundation.

“The changes we made to the program this year — narrowing the field and establishing the thresholds — only seemed to make it stronger,” Borchers said. “Clearly, it remains an incredibly effective tool to help local not-for-profit organizations promote themselves in the community and raise critical operating dollars.

“Many people have told us how much they appreciate the foundation’s role in promoting this kind of giving, But we’re the ones who need to be saying thanks. The participating organizations, the media outlets that helped promote the program and especially all of the donors who gave so generously are the ones who make the Challenge Match a success. They are the ones who make it all possible.”